Officials urged residents to verify their measles immunity before traveling, particularly as outbreaks continue across the United States and internationally.
Los Angeles County health officials are investigating a confirmed case of measles involving an international traveler who may have exposed people at Los Angeles International Airport, an airport shuttle and a healthcare facility, the Department of Public Health announced Friday.
The case is the seventh confirmed measles infection reported in Los Angeles County this year.
According to public health officials, the traveler arrived on British Airways Flight 281 at Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal on July 3 while infectious.
Officials said people who were at Gate 155 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on July 3 may have been exposed to the virus. Potential exposure also occurred aboard the Hertz Car Rental shuttle serving LAX between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. that same day.
Passengers seated near the infected traveler on the international flight will be contacted by their local health departments in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.
People who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. The final day to watch for symptoms related to the identified exposure sites is July 24.
Officials urged residents to verify their measles immunity before traveling, particularly as outbreaks continue across the United States and internationally. People are generally considered protected if they have previously had measles or received the recommended two-dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine series.
Infants ages 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally or to areas experiencing outbreaks should receive an early dose of the vaccine at least two weeks before departure, health officials said.
People who are pregnant, immunocompromised, younger than 12 months old or unvaccinated are at greater risk of severe illness and should contact a healthcare provider promptly if they believe they were exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. The virus can remain airborne or on surfaces for hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes and a rash that usually begins on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.
According to the CDC, 2,170 measles cases had been reported nationwide as of July 2. Most cases have been linked to outbreaks that began in 2025 and 2026, with the majority occurring among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. About 6% of reported cases have required hospitalization.
